Spiced Chai

By brandyc

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons cardamom pods
• 6 tea bags black tea (about 2 tablespoons loose tea)
• 4 cups cold water
• 4 cups whole milk
• 2 teaspoons whole allspice
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
• 2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
• 1 piece (1 inch) peeled gingerroot
• 1 cup vanilla-flavored syrup or honey

Preparation

Step 1

With rolling pin or mortar and pestle, crack open cardamom pods to release seeds. In 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, place pods and seeds in.

Cut paper label from strings on tea bags; tie strings of bags to keep attached and place in cooker. Add remaining ingredients except syrup.

Cover; cook on High heat setting 3 hours.

Remove tea bags. Stir syrup into chai. Cover; cook 10 to 15 minutes longer or until thoroughly heated. Carefully ladle chai into cups, to avoid whole spices.